dbt integration
Convert an existing dbt project into NQRust Analytics MDL with the Analytics Launcher.
If you already model your data with dbt, you can reuse that work as your semantic layer. The Analytics Launcher includes a converter that turns a dbt project into NQRust Analytics MDL — models, columns, and relationship mappings — so you do not have to redefine them by hand.
How it works
The converter reads the artifacts dbt produces when you build your project (the
manifest.json and catalog.json under target/) and generates MDL model
definitions from them.
The target data source must be supported by both dbt and the Analytics Engine. The connectors that NQRust Analytics supports are listed under Connect data sources.
Convert a dbt project
Build your dbt project
Run your dbt project so the target/manifest.json and target/catalog.json
artifacts exist (for example via dbt compile or dbt docs generate).
Run the converter
Use the dbt convert command of the Analytics Launcher, pointing it at the dbt
artifacts and an output directory:
./analytics-launcher dbt convert \
--manifest ./dbt_project/target/manifest.json \
--catalog ./dbt_project/target/catalog.json \
--output ./mdl_modelsAvailable flags can vary by launcher version. Run
./analytics-launcher dbt convert --help to see the exact options for your
build.
Use the generated MDL
The converter parses the dbt manifest and catalog, generates MDL model definitions and relationship mappings, and writes the structured MDL JSON to your output directory. From there, you can load it into NQRust Analytics and refine it.